NYC Tim Cartmell April 15-20 2016

Saturday 11:30AM -1:30 /2:30- 5:30PM: – Throws and takedowns

Starting with the principles of body use, Tim will teach simple solo exercises combined with partner exercises that are designed to illustrate and ingrain how to make the most of your natural strength. Tim will then teach several categories of throws and takedowns, and the bio mechanical principles that allow you to perform them with minimal effort. There will be step by-step instruction and drills that lead to entering in a combat situation, and how to execute leverage-based takedowns. This will include trips, throws, and sweeps, and how to counter those movements when applied to you. This material will be highly relevant and practical for standup fighters, Judoka's or wrestlers looking to improve their off-balancing ability , BJJ practitioners who know they need work in this area, and students of any martial art.

(Tim is the author of the book Effortless Combat Throws considered a classic by many)

Sunday will build on from Saturday with follow-ups on some of the throws practiced on Saturday. Tim will cover solo

exercises to develop the coordination, strength, flexibility, and rhythm needed to execute grappling techniques under pressure. Tim will show you how to amplify the power generated from your body, by teaching you how to apply hip pressure, how to distribute your weight, and the importance of angles in setting up your submissions and escapes

With each attack you will learn a corresponding escape, and how to drill through each attack and escape in succession.

Tim brings a very clear systematic approach to teaching and a sophisticated understanding of body use enriched by the years he spent studying in China and Taiwan and refined by over 20 years of BJJ practice, competition, and coaching.

Monday April 18, 6-9pm Bagua Zhang: Fundamentals & Single Palm Change

Wednesday April 20 6-9 Bagua Zhang: Double palm Change

The focus will be on the single and double palm change circle walking forms. The single and double palm change are the primary foundational movements for the whole system.Two circle walking forms, which are really just two short, yet concise, continuous sequence of movements containing the characteristic, spiraling, coiling, and undulating motions which are the hallmark of Baguazhang . This will also include stationary hand Maneuvers, basic stepping and partner drills, practicing the fundamental Skills on the circle, and the strategy of Baguazhang applications.

If you already have previous Bagua training, and feel reticent about learning another Bagua system, the principles will be consistent with what you are already familiar with, but you'll gain a deeper understanding through Tim's clear and down to earth instructions. If you have no experience in Bagua, Sun style is an excellent start because it puts a premium on the quality of the fundamentals and less on a large quantity of forms sequences.

About Ba Gua Zhang

Ba Gua Zhang is recognized as one of the three orthodox "internal" styles of Chinese martial art (the other two being Xing Yi Quan and Tai Ji Quan). Ba Gua literally translates to Eight trigrams. These trigrams are symbols which are used to represent all natural phenomena as described in the ancient Chinese text of divination. Zhang means palm and designates Ba Gua Zhang as a style of martial art, which emphasizes the use of the open hand in preference to the closed fist. Ba Gua Zhang, as a martial art, is based on the theory of continuously changing in response to the situation at hand in order to overcome an opponent with skill rather than brute force.

The basic solo training in Ba Gua Zhang is designed to teach the practitioner how to control his or her momentum and timing in order to generate power with the entire body mass as a coherent unit. This type of power is referred to as whole body power (Zheng Ti Jing). Whole body power enables the practitioner to issue force from any part of the body with the support of all other parts. Each part of the body coordinates with every other, generating the maximum amount of power available relative to the individual's size and weight. Whole body power is applied in all categories of Ba Gua Zhang techniques, striking, kicking, grappling and throwing.

It is the strategy of Ba Gua Zhang which most sets it apart from all other styles of martial art. Ba Gua Zhang theory advocates the complete avoidance of opposing power with power, and instead relies on fluid mobility, and dynamically synchronizing motion with changing conditions. The Ba Gua Zhang practitioner continuously seeks to avoid the apex of the opponent's force and attacks or counterattacks from the opponent's weak angles, by circling around and circumventing incoming force and resistance. In order to obtain a superior position, the Ba Gua Zhang practitioner applies the basic strategies trained in the solo forms' practice, that is, circling around the opponent or rotating the opponent around oneself.

Ba Gua Zhang circle walking is practiced to achieve a variety of physical, mental, and therapeutic benefits. Circle walking practice will help improve concentration and focus, develop flexibility in the spine, shoulders,waist, and hips. Regular practice develops strong legs, and improves physical and respiratory stamina. As a martial art, this practice helps the practitioner develop the ability to remain relaxed, integrated, stable, and rooted while in maintaining constant motion, and teaches the practitioner how to execute the highly evasive footwork required in a self defense scenario. The training methods that will be taught are an excellent way of coordinating the mind, body, and breath to produce efficient physical movement.

This dynamic method of leg training enables one to embody gentleness and lightness and to appear gracefully soft externally while concealing firm strength within. The skills developed from this training enable stable, firm, and nimble footwork while maintaining flexibility and liveliness in the upper body and torso, facilitating speed and agility.

Apart from the aforementioned gains, these exercises are beneficial for anyone seeking to enhance their ability in dance, yoga, or other movement and athletic disciplines.

About Tim CartmellTim Cartmell is one of the most sought after martial arts instructors in North America. He has over 40 years experience in martial arts such as San Soo, Xing Yi, Bagua, Taiji, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. After spending over 10 years in Asia studying various martial arts and fighting full contact matches, Tim returned to the US to teach as well as study ground fighting under Cleber Luciano. Eight years later he become Cleber's first black belt, and has won numerous grappling tournaments including winning the Copa seven times, as well as taking silver in the 2005 Mundials (World Championships) in Brazil, and has twice won the gold at the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Pan American Games. Tim is also a very accomplished translator and author with his latest translation “Chin Na Fa” on bookshelves now; he has also translated “Practical Chin Na” by Zhao Da Yuan & “Method of Chinese Wrestling” by Tong Zhong Yi. Tim has also authored well respected books such as “Effortless Combat Throws," “Passing the Guard” w/ Ed Beneville, and “Xing Yi Nei Gong” w/Dan Miller. His latest projects include a series of DVD’s on Stand up Grappling and Ground Proofing. Tim teaches fulltime in Huntington Beach CA. where he has combined the stand-up fighting of Xing Yi, Bagua, and Taiji with the ground work of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to create his Shen Wu curriculum. For more details on Tim’s background go to http://www.shenwu.com/background.htm

Past Events

3-Day Workshop with Master Luo De-Xiu

September 18-20, 2015

Master Luo De Xiu of Taipei, Taiwan is widely recognized as one of the world's foremost experts in the Chinese Internal Arts. Master Luo has been practicing and teaching for over 35 years. He received his fundamental training from Zhang Zhun-Feng's student, Hong Yi-Xiang. Later, he went on to study with many of Zhang's other students, including renowned Xing-yi& Bagua master Sun Xi-Kun's student, Liu Qian. Master Luo's years of research into the theory and teachings of the internal arts, as well as his experience in many full-contact competitions, gives him the ability to explain internal theory, proper body mechanics, health benefits and fighting theory in a way that is clear and easy to understand.